Pipe spacer

ABSTRACT

A spacer or emplacement former is provided to fit about a soil pipe or the like that is to be substantially embedded in or surrounded by a construction material such as concrete. The spacer reserves an annular space in the construction material immediately surrounding the pipe for the emplacement of subsequent connection or emplacement of other plumbing fixtures. The present spacer comprises a generally cup-shaped member, adapted to receive a pipe or the like telescopically, having an open end, and also having a closed but removable end. The spacer is aligned with pipes of various diameters by aligning means adjacent its closed end adapted to align the spacer with pipes of various diameters, and by means of a series of fingers that extend radially inwardly of the spacer adjacent its open end. The fingers are formed of friable material of substantial cross section and are adapted to break off at essentially any suitable radial distance within the lengths of the fingers in order to provide aligning surfaces on the ends of the fingers to accommodate inwardly of the fingers and closely fit, pipes of varying diameters to aid in aligning the spacer with such pipes. Preferably, the fingers are formed of friable foamed plastic material.

United States Patent [191 Harvey Apr. 2, 1974 [73] Assignee: William H.Harvey Company,

Omaha, Nebr.

[22] Filed: July 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 274,309

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.70,179, Sept. 8,

1970, abandoned.

"[5 UTS. Cll. 32798, 52/220, 52] 5 77; 138/96R,

[51] Int. Cl. E0411 1/00 [58] Field of Search 52/577, 220, 99, 127, 98;249/177, 183, 175, 61, 97;,285/56, 58, 3, 4,

114, DIG. 9; 220/3.4, 24 R, 27

Primary Examiner-Henry C. Sutherland Assistant Examiner-Mark H. WolkAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Bosworth, Sessions & McCoy [57] ABSTRACT Aspacer or emplacement former is provided to fit about a soil pipe or thelike that is to be substantially embedded in or surrounded by aconstruction material such as concrete. The spacer reserves an annularspace in the construction material immediately surrounding the pipe forthe emplacement of subsequent connection or emplacement of otherplumbing fixtures.

The present spacer comprises a generally cup-shaped -membe1', adapted toreceive a pipe or the like telescopically, having an open end, and alsohaving a closed but removable end. The spacer is aligned with pipes ofvarious diameters by aligning means adjacent its closed end adapted toalign the spacer with pipes of various diameters, and by means of aseries of fingers that extend radially inwardly of the spacer adjacentits open end. The fingers are formed of friable material of substantialcross section and are adapted to break off at essentially any suitableradial distance within the lengths of the fingers in order to providealigning surfaces on the ends of the fingers to accommodate inwardly ofthe fingers and closely fit, pipes of varying diameters to aid inaligning the spacer with such pipes. Preferably, the fingers are formedof friable foamed plastic material.

14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PIPE SPACER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of applicantsU.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 70,179, now abandoned, filed Sept. 8,1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a spacer oremplacement former for covering an open end of a pipe or the like, andmore particularly, for temporarily closing the ends of soil pipes ofdifferent diameters while reserving and protecting an open generallyannular zone surrounding the pipe when construction material, such asconcrete, is formed about the pipe to form a floor.

For convenience of disclosure, the present spacer is described for usein surrounding and temporarily capping a vertically disposed soil pipefor a floor mounted water closet. However, it is understood that thespacer can be used with other types of pipes and in other annulardispositions, such as with pipes extending horizontally in a wall.

In constructing a floor for a lavatory and the like on which a watercloset is mounted, a soil pipe for the water closet is placed so as toextend vertically, and the floor is subsequently built or laid aroundit. Often, the floor is made of material that is poured to form a floorand that hardens, such as concrete or other castable and hardenablematerial. Later the pipe is connected to a water closet or to otherpipes as may be desired. To accomplish this a fitting such as a flangeor coupling, must be attached to the end of the soil pipe. Thisnecessitates an open annular zone or recess immediately surrounding thepipe at and below the floor level. In the past, it has usually beennecessary to cut away part of the cast floor around the pipe. Where thefloor comprises concrete or other hardened poured material, it isnecessary to chip and chisel away enough of such material to provide thespace required. The chipping away of the floor is arduous andtime-consuming and materially adds to the labor cost of theconstruction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present spacer is designed to fit aroundthe exposed end of a pipe having a diameter falling within a wide rangeof sizes, to reserve an annular recess when a wall or floor of concreteor other material is poured or otherwise formed about the pipe end. Thereserved recess allows subsequent installation of other equipment suchas a flange or coupling without laboriously chipping away portions ofthe floor material.

In a preferred form, the spacer of the invention comprises a cup-shaped,cylindrical plastic cap member having one end closed and the other endopened. The closed end prevents entry into the pipe of foreign,extraneous. matter but can be cut or broken away when desired to reachthe pipe end as for connection to other parts. The cup-shaped memberadjacent its closed end has aligning means to align it with the pipe;the aligning means preferably can align the cup-shaped member adjacentits closed end with pipes of various diameters. A plurality of fingerspreferably equally angularly spaced around the interior of the spacer,extend radially inwardly of the cup-shaped member adjacent its open end.The fingers are of substantial cross sections and formed of friablematerial adapted to break at sections longitudinally of the fingers atany location over a substantial length of the fingers to produce shorterfingers having on the broken ends of the remaining portions of thefingers aligning surfaces that can extend generally axially of and inclose proximity to the outside surface of a pipe having any one of aplurality of diameters. In a preferred embodiment, alternate fingers areof two lengths, the longer fingers being adapted substantially to clearbut contact a widely used pipe of smaller diameter, and the shorterfingers being adapted substantially to clear but contact a widely usedpipe of larger diameter. The longer fingers are usually the only onesthat need be broken.

The cup-shaped member of the spacer preferably is formed of hardenedsynthetic resin or plastic, and preferably the radial fingers are formedof friable, plastic material such as foamed plastic material. Thiscombination renders the spacer light in weight although substantiallyrigid, relatively inexpensive to produce, and easy to install.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in diametrical section, of aspacer of the present invention, when not used;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, in diametrical section of the spacer ofFIGS. 1 and 2 installed about an end pipe in a concrete floor;

FIG. 4 is aperspective view, in a diametrical section, of the spacer ofFIGS. 1 and 2 installed in a concrete floor about the end of a pipe oflarger diameter than that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the embodiment ofFIG. 4 in which a flange ring is mounted about the pipe through acut-away, previously closed end, of the spacer; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a modifiedinstallation in which only part of the closed end of the spacer is cutaway, and the pipe extends above the floor level for another type of useor connectron.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, thespacer embodiment l illustrated includes a cup-shaped member 5, having agenerally cylindrical sidewall portion 6 having a closed end 7 and anopen end 8. The portion 6 preferably has a slight outward flare in thedirection of the open end 8, and a terminal rim 9 at its open endpreferably of a somewhat greater flare to provide greater thickness forstrength.

The closed end 7 carries, inside of member 5, pipealigning means ofwhich two forms, 11 and 12, are shown; they can be used singly or incombination. One form is annular flange 11 extending generally axiallyinwardly of member 5 from its closed end; flange 11 is also preferablycoaxially aligned with an external circular ridge 13 extending outwardlyfrom the closed end 7 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and preferably sized tofit closely outside of a widely used pipe of larger diameter, such as a4 inch outside diameter pipe. The other aligning means shown is a seriesof pin members 12 equiangularly and equidistantly spaced radiallyinwardly of the flange 1 1, and extending axially of the spacer from itsclosed end 7; they are radially spaced preferably to fit closely outsideofa widely used pipe of smaller diameter, such as a 3 inch outsidediameter pipe. Their free ends are preferably tapered inwardly as shownin HO. 1 to guide a pipe radially outside of the pins. If desired, thepositions of the flange 11 and pin members 12 could be reversed, and theflange could be spaced radially inside the pin members 12.Alternatively, two flanges like flange 11 or two sets of pin memberslike members 12 could be used in place of one flange and one set of pinmembers.

The member 5, including portions 6, 7, 9, ll, 12 and 13, is preferablymolded in one piece from any of a number of known synthetic resinmaterials, such as polyacrylic acid, polyacrylic esters, polymethacrylicacid, polymethacrylic esters, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl butyral,polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride,cellulose acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, nylon, aswell as still other materials.

The tapered configurations of portions 6 and 9 as well as flange 11 andpins 19 aid in molding; and the tapered configurations of portion 6 andrim 9 also prevent the body from being pulled out of the cast floor inuse.

The illustrated spacer also has adjacent the open end of memberpipe-aligning means in the form of a ring 14 having radially inwardlyextending fingers 15, 16. The structure formed of ring 14 and fingers15, 16 preferably is a one piece member separately formed fromcup-shaped member 5. Fingers 15 and 16 alternate, and fingers 15 arelonger than fingers 16. Fingers 15 are preferably long enoughsubstantially to clear and contact a widely used pipe of a smallerdiameter, such as the 3 inch outside diameter pipe mentioned above;fingers 16 are only long enough substantially to clear and contact theoutside of a widely used pipe of a larger diameter, such as the 4 inchoutside diameter pipe mentioned above. The fingers may be of anyconvenient shape, of substantial cross section inwardly of their ends;the fingers preferably are tapered from their free ends toward theirends supported from ring 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the sides 17of the fingers are tapered to increase the width of the fingers fromtheir free ends toward their supported ends, while the transverse bottomsurfaces 18 are tapered to increase the depth of the fingers from theirfree to their supported ends. The last-mentioned taper aids in centeringa pipe with respect to the generally cylindrical sidewalls 6 as thespacer is telescopically placed over the pipe. Staples l9 firmly fix thering 14 inside the cup-shaped member 5 adjacent its open end.

The frangible fingers 15 and 16, and if desired ring 14, may be formedof any suitable solid friable material that has sufficient strength towithstand handling until broken by manually applied force, at anylocation over a substantial length of the fingers. Preferably thefingers and ring are cast or molded in one piece of friable foamed orcellular plastic material such as foamed polystyrene. polyurethanes,polyethylene, polyesters, and the like, although cork-like material suchas cork or other suitable friable material may be used. The foamed orcellular structure has little or no water absorption when the cells areclosed as is preferable, and the foamed or cellular characteristiccontributes to the light weight of the spacer while rendering thefrangible fingers 15 and 16 susceptible to easy fracture at any locationdesired along the fingers.

ln use, the spacer is telescopically installed about the open end of apipe. As the open end 8 of the cupshaped member 5 passes the upper openend of the pipe, the ends of fingers 15 and 16 of ring 14 may, ifnecessitated by the side of the pipe, break away to an extent determinedby the outside diameter of the pipe, each finger being broken only tothe extent needed to pass the pipe because of the friable nature of thematerial of which the fingers are formed. The remaining stub portions ofthe fingers (or of any unfractured fingers of those too short to bebroken) can contact the pipe and thereby center the spacer l withrespect to the pipe. In this manner, the bottom open end 8 of the spaceris also automatically aligned about the pipe, and the spacer isself-adapting to pipes of widely different diameters. Larger pipes breakoff greater portions of the radially inwardly directed fingers thansmaller pipes.

At the closed end 7 of the spacer, the flange 11 or pin members 12center the spacer and the upper end of the pipe relative to each other.The diameter of the pipe determines whether the flange l1 and pinmembers 12 are used separately, or in cooperation with each other inaligning the spacer and pipe. In the illustrated embodiment of thespacer, for example, the pin members 12 fit inside a pipe of outsidediameter of 4 inches and outside of a pipe of a diameter of 3 inches.When the pin members 12 are on the inside of a pipe, the flange 11 ispreferably located so that it is in close proximity to the outside of apipe of usual thickness, to aid in alignment. If desired, the describedparts can be dimensioned so that the flange 11 may fit on the inside ofpipes of relatively large diameters.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the relative positions of identical spacersembodying the invention and two different pipes, after the spacers havebeen placed around their open ends asjust described. In FIG. 3, the endof a pipe P of relatively small, such as 3 inch, outside diametercontacts the tips of longer fingers 15, which may be unbroken, andwidely clears fingers 16; and also is located inside of pin members 12and in contact with closed end 7. In FIG. 4, pipe P, of a largerdiameter than pipe P, such as 4 inch outside diameter, has broken awaynecessary radial lengths of longer fingers 15 and contacts the brokenends of fingers 15 and the tips of shorter fingers 16, which may beunbroken. Also because of its greater diameter, pipe P, fits outside ofpin members 12 but between those members and in contact with the flange11. Both the pin'members l2 and flange 11 are so located relative to theoutside surface of the pipe they contact that, in conjunction with theirflexibility, they firmly grasp or lock onto the pipe and hence preventtipping or floating of the spacer about, or accidental dislodgment ofthe spacer from, the end of a pipe.

The floor is next laid as by pouring concrete, leveling it to a desiredheight, and allowing it to harden to form a cast concrete floor 20. Thespacer 1 reserves an annular zone 21 about each of the pipes P and P Theclosed end 7 of the cup-shaped spacer is next removed, preferablycompletely, as by cutting away as by a sharp edged tool or even bybreaking it away. Thereafter, a flange, coupling, or any other desiredfitting may be installed on the pipe end in the reserved end.

1n the embodiment of FIG. 5, the entire closed end has been cut away anda standard end flange 22 has been conventionally installed on pipe P Theflange 22 has bayonet slots 23 and notches 24 to permit conventionalconnections to other known fittings or fixtures, not shown.

In some instances, a pipe extends above the finished grade of a gloor.Also, it is not necessary always to cut away the entire closed end 7.FIG. 6 illustrates these modifications. In this case, only the centralportion of the end 7 is removed. The raised ridge 13 in this instanceserves as a guide for the cutting tool. The spacer, now open at bothends, is slipped about a pipe P and moved to the proposed floor level.Thereafter, when the concrete floor is laid as shown in FIG. 6, thespacer 1 protects and reserves a zone about pipe P as previouslydescribed, for any subsequent work to be done on the pipe at that area.

It is apparent that the spacer may be used with even larger pipe sizes,as with pipes fitting outside of flange 11, particularly when theinternal diameter of ring 14 is sized to clear such a pipe; in suchcase, all fingers 15 and 16 are broken to fit around, and align thespacer with, the pipe.

It is apparent that in the illustrated spacer there are two pipealigning means, one near the closed end and the other near the open end.Each means is adapted to act to align the spacer with pipes of differentsizes. One means, that near the open end in the illustrated embodiment,is adjustable closely to fit the outside of pipes of widely differentsizes.

Various other modifications may be made in the illustrated embodimentsand the invention may be used for various uses other than thoseindicated without departing from the spirit of the invention. It isintended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in theappended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty reside in theinvention.

I claim:

1. A spacer of the character described comprising a generally cup-shapedmember having a closed end and an open end adpated to receive the endportion of a pipe or the like; first pipe-aligning means in andsupported from said cup-shaped member adjacent its closed end, saidfirst pipe-aligning means including at least two pipe-aligning membersradially spaced substantially concentrically of the cup-shaped memberselectively to align pipes of a plurality of diameters either betweensaid two pipe-aligning members of said first pipe-aligning means or at aside of a pipe-aligning member of said first pipe-aligning means; andsecond pipealigning means in and supported from said cup-shaped memberadjacent its open end, said second pipealigning means including fingerscomprising friable plastic material adapted to be easily broken off atessentially any longitudinal location thereof over a substantial lengthof said fingers to accommodate inwardly of the fingers pipes of saidplurality of pipe diameters.

2. A spacer of the character described comprising a generally cup-shapedmember having a closed end and an open end and adapted to receive theend portion of the pipe or the like; first pipe-aligning means in saidcup-shaped member adjacent its closed end, said first pipe-aligningmeans including at least two axially extending pipe-aligning membersradially spaced substantially concentrically of said cup-shaped memberselectively to align pipes of a plurality of diameters either betweenradially spaced pipe-aligning members of said first pipe-aligning meansor at a side of a pipe-aligning member of said first pipe-aligningmeans; and second pipe-aligning means including fingers supporting andextending generally radially inwardly from said cupshaped member at alocation adjacent its open end, said fingers being formed of friableplastic material of substantial cross section that permits said fingersto be easily broken off at essentially any location thereof over asubstantial length of said fingers to provide on the broken ends of theremaining portions of said fingers aligning surfaces that extendgenerally axially of and substantially parallel and in close proximityto the outside surface of a pipe having a diameter corresponding to anyof said plurality of pipe diameters to align the open end portion ofsaid spacer with said pipe.

3. The spacer of claim 1 in which one of said two pipe-aligning membersof said first pipe-aligning means comprises a generally circular flangeextending longitudinally of the cup-shaped member from its closed endand radially spaced from said cup-shaped member.

4. The spacer of claim 2 in which one of said two pipe-aligning membersof said first pipe-aligning means comprises a generally circular flangeextending longitudinally of the cup-shaped member from its closed endand radially spaced from said cup-shaped member.

5. The spacer of claim 1 in which said two pipealigning members of saidfirst pipe-aligning means are supported by said closed end of saidcup-shaped member, and in which one of said two pipe-aligning members ofsaid first pipe-aligning means comprises pin members extending axiallyof the cup-shaped member from its closed end.

6. The spacer of claim 2 in which said two pipealigning members of saidfirst pipe-aligning means are supported by said closed end of saidcup-shaped member, and in which one of said two pipe-aligning members ofsaid first pipe-aligning means comprises pin members extending axiallyof the cup-shaped member from its closed end. i

7. The spacer of claim 1 in which said two pipealigning members of saidfirst pipe-aligning means are supported by said closed end of saidcup-shaped member and in which one of said two pipe-aligning memberscomprises a circular flange and the second of said two members comprisespin members, both said flange and pin members extending axially of saidcup-shaped member from its closed end, one of said flange and said pinmembers being stationed radially inwardly of the other with respect tothe cup-shaped member, thereby to receive optionally an end of the pipeor the like either between said flange and pin members or on a side ofeither of said flange or pin members.

8. The spacer of claim 1 in which a plurality of said fingers extend agreater distance radially inwardly of said cup-shaped member than do aplurality of other fingers disposed between said fingers extending agreater distance.

9. The spacer of claim 2 in which a plurality of said fingers extend agreater distance radially inwardly of said cupshaped member than do aplurality of other fingers disposed between said fingers extending agreater distance.

10. The spacer of claim 1 in which said fingers extend from a ringmember that is attached to the inside of said cup-shaped member.

13. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the plastic of which said fingersare formed is foamed plastic material.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the plastic of which said fingersare formed is foamed plastic material.

1. A spacer of the character described comprising a generally cup-shapedmember having a closed end and an open end adpated to receive the endportion of a pipe or the like; first pipealigning means in and supportedfrom said cup-shaped member adjacent its closed end, said firstpipe-aligning means including at least two pipe-aligning membersradially spaced substantially concentrically of the cup-shaped memberselectively to align pipes of a plurality of diameters either betweensaid two pipealigning members of said first pipe-aligning means or at aside of a pipe-aligning member of said first pipe-aligning means; andsecond pipe-aligning means in and supported from said cup-shaped memberadjacent its open end, said second pipe-aligning means including fingerscomprising friable plastic material adapted to be easily broken off atessentially any longitudinal location thereof over a substantial lengthof said fingers to accommodate inwardly of the fingers pipes of saidplurality of pipe diameters.
 2. A spacer of the character describedcomprising a generally cup-shaped member having a closed end and an openend and adapted to receive the end portion of the pipe or the like;first pipe-aligning means in said cup-shaped member adjacent its closedend, said first pipe-aligning means including at least two axiallyextending pipe-aligning members radially spaced substantiallyconcentrically of said cup-shaped member selectively to align pipes of aplurality of diameters either between radially spaced pipe-aligningmembers of said first pipe-aligning means or at a side of apipe-aligning member of said first pipe-aligning means; and secondpipe-aligning means including fingers supporting and extending generallyradially inwardly from said cup-shaped member at a location adjacent itsopen end, said fingers being formed of friable plastic material ofsubstantial cross section that permits said fingers to be easily brokenoff at essentially any location thereof over a substantial length ofsaid fingers to provide on the broken ends of the remaining portions ofsaid fingers aligning surfaces that extend generally axially of andsubstantially parallel and in close proximity to the outside surface ofa pipe having a diameter corresponding to any of said plurality of pipediameters to align the open end portion of said spacer with said pipe.3. The spacer of claim 1 in which one of said two pipe-aligning membersof said first pipe-aligning means comprises a generally circular flangeextending longitudinally of the cup-shaped member from its closed endand radially spaced from said cup-shaped member.
 4. The spacer of claim2 in which one of said tWo pipe-aligning members of said firstpipe-aligning means comprises a generally circular flange extendinglongitudinally of the cup-shaped member from its closed end and radiallyspaced from said cup-shaped member.
 5. The spacer of claim 1 in whichsaid two pipe-aligning members of said first pipe-aligning means aresupported by said closed end of said cup-shaped member, and in which oneof said two pipe-aligning members of said first pipe-aligning meanscomprises pin members extending axially of the cup-shaped member fromits closed end.
 6. The spacer of claim 2 in which said two pipe-aligningmembers of said first pipe-aligning means are supported by said closedend of said cup-shaped member, and in which one of said twopipe-aligning members of said first pipe-aligning means comprises pinmembers extending axially of the cup-shaped member from its closed end.7. The spacer of claim 1 in which said two pipe-aligning members of saidfirst pipe-aligning means are supported by said closed end of saidcup-shaped member and in which one of said two pipe-aligning memberscomprises a circular flange and the second of said two members comprisespin members, both said flange and pin members extending axially of saidcup-shaped member from its closed end, one of said flange and said pinmembers being stationed radially inwardly of the other with respect tothe cup-shaped member, thereby to receive optionally an end of the pipeor the like either between said flange and pin members or on a side ofeither of said flange or pin members.
 8. The spacer of claim 1 in whicha plurality of said fingers extend a greater distance radially inwardlyof said cup-shaped member than do a plurality of other fingers disposedbetween said fingers extending a greater distance.
 9. The spacer ofclaim 2 in which a plurality of said fingers extend a greater distanceradially inwardly of said cup-shaped member than do a plurality of otherfingers disposed between said fingers extending a greater distance. 10.The spacer of claim 1 in which said fingers extend from a ring memberthat is attached to the inside of said cup-shaped member.
 11. The spacerof claim 1 in which a central portion of said closed end of saidcup-shaped member is severable from said cup-shaped member to expose theend of a pipe within said cup-shaped member.
 12. The spacer of claim 11in which said closed end includes means defining a central portionadapted to be severed to expose said pipe.
 13. The apparatus of claim 2in which the plastic of which said fingers are formed is foamed plasticmaterial.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the plastic of whichsaid fingers are formed is foamed plastic material.